Q & A: Finding Your SQL Server Evaluation Time Limit

Q: A couple of months ago I installed the SQL Server 2014 Evaluation Edition but I don’t remember exactly when that was. How can I tell how long I have left in my evaluation period?

A: The SQL Server Evaluation edition will last for 180 days before it expires. You can find the number of days that the SQL Server Evaluation edition by running the undocumented xp_qv extended stored procedure. The following sample script returns the remaining days for the SQL Server Evaluation Edition.

sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
RECONFIGURE
GO

sp_configure 'Agent XPs', 1;
RECONFIGURE
GO

DECLARE @RemainingTime INT
DECLARE @InstanceName SYSNAME
SELECT @InstanceName = CONVERT(SYSNAME, SERVERPROPERTY('InstanceName'))
EXEC @RemainingTime = xp_qv '2715127595', @InstanceName
SELECT @RemainingTime 'Remaining evaluation days:'

GO